Page 13 of Beta and the Beast (Beastverse #2)

Jace's lips pull back in a snarl as he looks at me, which earns him a much more demanding growl from the alpha standing behind him. Jace tilts his head to the side, offering his submission to Henry without a fight.

"He doesn't have a name, and he doesn't know how to behave," Jace says before swallowing hard.

"Well, first of all, everyone deserves a name," I tell him. "Second, if he doesn't behave, I'm confident Henry and Romulus can take care of it."

I ignore the way Henry shifts how he's standing, chest puffing out a little bit. It's clear that at least Romulus is preening at the praise, even if the praise is that he could take on a teenager.

Jace looks like he wants to object again, but then just lets out a resigned sigh as he closes his eyes. His body jerks when his beast gets control of it, and then he's up out of his chair and pacing around the coffee shop like a wild animal. Poor guy probably doesn't get out very often.

"You owe someone an apology," Henry says, his voice leaving no room for argument as he directs the unnamed beast to apologize.

" I owe no one anything, " he says, shaking his head, his red curls making him look more boyish than a feral animal.

He doesn't say it maliciously. No, if anything, he sounds like Fenrir, and it takes everything in me not to giggle at it.

Beasts always think they're the greatest gift ever bestowed on anyone.

" Apologize, " Romulus snarls.

He doesn't move from where he's standing, and he only stays out long enough for Jace's beast to lower his head and mutter the quickest, most unintelligible apology I've ever heard. It's good enough for Romulus, so it's good enough for me.

"So what's this about not having a name?" I ask, leaning over the table to grab one of the cookies and take a bite. I close my eyes and make a soft sound of appreciation with my first bite.

"Oh, these are good," I tell them, a smile curling my lips.

I was prepared to lie to them if they weren't the best, but these are perfect. They have the right density and moisture level and the ideal ratio of batter to chocolate chips.

"It's our fifth batch," Aiden tells me, his cheeks heating. "I mean, we needed some practice." He rubs the back of his neck in embarrassment, but thankfully, Jace's beast feels more talkative and wants my attention.

" I wasn't given a name. How do I get one? " His voice is more snarly and feral, reminding me of Fenrir when he's in an exceptionally bad mood.

"Well, when Fenrir came around, Sam and Scott, my brothers, were really into Viking history and stuff, and the three of them narrowed it down to Fenrir and Sleipnir. I didn't like Sleipnir, so we went with Fenrir." I pause and look up at Henry. "How did Romulus and Remus come up with their names?"

Henry's smile is wide as soon as I ask, and the apples of his cheeks are rosy.

"We looked up famous twins so our beasts could feel as close to one another as Lucas and I are.

We picked the coolest sounding names and didn't realize until after we all got used to them that Romulus ended up killing Remus.

" Henry shrugs with a shake of his head while I try to keep my laugh from bubbling up at his misfortune. "What can you do?"

"Well, I'm hoping Romulus doesn't plan on taking after his namesake," I joke.

Henry shakes his head, but a slight narrowing of his eyes makes me think he doesn't take my comment as lighthearted as I meant. I don't think Romulus is going to kill his brother. As far as I'm aware, they all get along as well as my brothers do, which means they love each other a lot.

" I want a name, " Jace's beast demands. " Everyone else has one. I want one. "

"Okay, well, are you guys busy for the rest of the afternoon?" I ask, looking up at Henry, the authority figure.

"They have homework and chores to do this evening." He levels the two of them with an easy gaze even as the alpha and the beast both frown their displeasure. "Other than that, we're yours until you want us to leave."

Romulus flashes in Henry's eyes just long enough for me to know he's not just talking about the boys and not just talking about today. I ignore the innuendo and pretend he's only talking about the boys.

"Well, if you two wouldn't mind helping me with my closing duties, I think I can help pick out a name," I tell them.

They're up and out of their chairs before I finish saying anything. I give them each a rag and spray and ask them to start wiping down the tables. Then I move over to Henry to talk to him for a second.

"I need to go grab my laptop from upstairs. Are you okay with watching the boys here?"

"No problem," Henry says, his expression soft, his neat little man bun looking messy and slightly dusted in flour now that I'm standing close enough to notice it. I bet he was wearing an apron, too.

Why does that have butterflies taking flight in my belly? This big, strong alpha with a beast who wants to pin me down and do wicked things to me, looking like such a sweetheart, not caring that it might come off as not masculine. It makes him that much more attractive.

"Don't run," Henry whispers as I step away from him.

My spine straightens, and my whole body gives one big shiver. I know why he's telling me that, why he feels like I might. I want to run to get away from these growing feelings, these ever-increasing needs.

If I run, Romulus will chase. He's a predator through and through, but he's still trying to be a good role model for these boys. A good role model doesn't chase down a fleeing beta. Oh, but he would, and I don't think I'd hate it.

"I'll be right back," I whisper, taking one step back while facing Henry.

Romulus flickers in his eyes, dark, golden, dark, golden, over and over as I back up to the exit. Thankfully, Aiden and Jace are too occupied with cleaning up my shop to notice how close their mentor is to losing it.

When I exit the building, I release a long sigh, trying to regain my composure. By the time I go back inside, I'll have myself under control. I won't allow it to be any other way.